Week 0 of the 2022-23 NCAA Football season is in the books, making way for a full slate of games this Saturday featuring all of the top programs in the nation.
Of course, when talking about the best teams in the country, the SEC is always a part of the conversation. With the Clemson Tigers of the ACC stepping back from their previously dominant status last season, the SEC’s overbearing presence in the realm of college football became even more evident.
The Cincinnati Bearcats were able to make it to the College Football Playoffs last year from a non-Power 5 Conference, largely due to no presence from the ACC. That said, making it to the CFP from a smaller conference means most likely playing Alabama or Georgia, then Alabama or Georgia.
College football betting sites have posted SEC futures for this season, with the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs once again expected to face off in the Conference Championship Game.
Odds to win SEC Conference 2022-23
- Alabama -145
- Georgia +165
- Texas A&M +1400
- Kentucky +4000
- Tennessee +4000
- Ole Miss +4500
- Florida +5000
- LSU +5000
- Auburn +5000
- Arkansas +6600
- South Carolina +7500
- Mississippi State +10000
- Missouri +25000
- Vanderbilt +75000
The current AP College Football Top 25 rankings feature three of last year’s CFP qualifiers in the first through the third position, with the Clemson Tigers coming in at fourth overall.
The Texas A&M Aggies are ranked 6th and appear to be the only real threat to the Crimson Tide in the SEC West Division. Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies were able to beat Alabama in the regular season last year, but a late loss to Ole Miss crushed their championship hopes.
Whether or not Texas A&M can get over the hump this season will entirely depend on if they can beat Alabama on October 8th in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
AP Top 25
1. Alabama (0-0)
2. Ohio State (0-0)
3. Georgia (0-0)
4. Clemson (0-0)
5. Notre Dame (0-0)
6. Texas A&M (0-0)
7. Utah (0-0)
8. Michigan (0-0)
9. Oklahoma (0-0)
10. Baylor (0-0)
11. Oregon (0-0)
12. Oklahoma State (0-0)
13. North Carolina State (0-0)
14. USC (0-0)
15. Michigan State (0-0)
16. Miami (FL) (0-0)
17. Pittsburgh (0-0)
18. Wisconsin (0-0)
19. Arkansas (0-0)
20. Kentucky (0-0)
21. Ole Miss (0-0)
22. Wake Forest (0-0)
23. Cincinnati (0-0)
24. Houston (0-0)
25. BYU (0-0)
Despite the NCAA Football rankings being top-heavy with SEC teams, after Texas A&M, we don’t see another conference program until Arkansas at 19.
The same cannot be said for the following futures odds that have been posted for betting on the CFP. The Auburn Tigers, LSU Tigers, and Florida Gators are not ranked at the moment, but the following CFP odds suggest that they are the 13th, 14th, and 15th most likely teams to win a National Championship next January.
CFP Futures
- Alabama +200
- Ohio State +350
- Georgia +500
- Clemson +1100
- USC +2200
- Oklahoma +2500
- Texas A&M +2500
- Texas +3300
- Miami (FL) +4000
- Notre Dame +4000
- Michigan +5000
- Utah +6000
- Auburn +8000
- LSU +8000
- Florida +10000
- NC State +10000
- Oregon +10000
- Penn State +10000
- Wisconsin +10000
- Arkansas +15000
- Baylor +15000
- Florida State +15000
- Kentucky +15000
- Michigan State +15000
- Ole Miss +15000
- South Carolina +15000
- Tennessee +15000
- Cincinnati +20000
- Iowa +20000
- Minnesota +20000
- Mississippi State +20000
These early season odds must be examined cautiously. Oddsmakers lean more heavily on tradition, whereas those that set the AP rankings are focusing on the here and now.
For instance, the Florida State Seminoles are the 22nd listed team in the above odds for betting on the CFP National Championship. This is the result of FSU laying a whipping on tiny Duquesne in Week 0, combined with their historical relevance to NCAAF.
FSU is a 3-point dog to the LSU Tigers this weekend on the road this Saturday at 7:30 PM.
Florida State @ LSU
- Point Spread: FSU +3.0, LSU -3.0
- Moneyline: FSU +130, LSU -150
- Over/Under: 51.5
This game will serve as a Petrie dish to determine the overall relevance of not only the ACC and the SEC but both LSU and the Seminole’s prospects for 2022-23.
Bovada, BetOnline, Sports Illustrated
